A young girl was walking her dog one evening in the neighborhood. The weather was cold. She had her head buried in the hood of her coat. A car came up the hill, travelling at an easy pace in the left lane. Apart from the car in the right lane, slowly climbing the hill, there appeared no one out and about on this chilly night.
The car on the left slowly accelerated from 50, climbing up to 70, 80, 90 on this empty road, overtaking the one on the right. By the time the driver realized that there was someone in the middle of the road, it was too late to brake. The young girl and her dog were both hit by the car travelling at 90 km/hour. The impact threw the girl and the animal up into the air. Then they both fell, crashing down onto the sidewalk.
This is not an excerpt from a horror film. This is a true event which happened on the evening of December 17, 2009 at Bilkent University, on the road up from the main gates of Main Campus.
The dog is now dead. The young girl, in her teens, has been declared to be in a state of brain death, where she still breathes with the aid of a life support device. The medical authorities are waiting for the parents' decision to unplug the breathing unit.
What about the driver? How does one live with this destructive deed for the rest of one's life?
WHY does anyone have to speed? WHY is it not possible to ensure safe driving in a university where the best brains of the country come to receive the best quality education?
What is the answer, what do you think?
Bilkent University Traffic Committee
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